Lemonade Stand Easel Card: Tips and Tricks for Working with Digital Images

Here are a few tips and tricks that you can use if you have not worked with digital images before:

Print on high quality cardstock. I use Epson Matte Premium Presentation Paper for high resolution images.

Always set your printer properties to the High Quality setting.

You can print the digital sheet exactly as it comes from Gecko Galz. Or, you can use a photo editing program to crop and resize images to suit your project. That is what I did with this card.

Cropped images can be pasted into a Word file. This way, you can size the paper to 8 1/2″ x 11, which fits most all printers. Cropping and pasting means that you don’t use ink/paper on images that you don’t intend to use.

Let images dry overnight, or heat set gently with your heat gun. This will prevent the ink from smudging when handled.

Lemonade Stand Easel Card: A Peek Inside

Create a pocket for your easel card by cutting the liner paper for the card interior about 3″ longer than the panel. Then just score, fold, and adhere the sides to make an instant pocket.

Create a little tea bag wallet by scoring and folding a strip of white cardstock. Make a belly band from scraps and decorate with fussy cut images and flowers.

Iced tea is just as refreshing as lemonade, and you can make an icy cold glass using the tea bag tucked inside the wallet.

I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and ideas you can use in your own crafty adventures. I’ll be back soon with more Gecko Galz creations!

Authentique Endless Summer Memories Flip Folio Tutorial

Hello, Friends! Summer is speeding by, isn’t it? I created this Authentique Endless Summer Memories Flip Folio Tutorial because sometimes it’s hard to really take in all the adventures and activities of this busy season. There are pool parties, picnics in the park, concerts under the stars, holidays, birthdays and the lovely “ordinary” days that we want to remember. This flip folio, rich with summer imagery and colors, is the perfect place to capture all the lazy, hazy days of summer fun.

Endless Summer Memories Flip Folio Tutorial: The Basics

This 5″ x 7″ staggered page style folio is made with 4 sheets of 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock. I had a good time designing the fold out pages, pockets, flips, flaps and interactive features housed inside. Loosely based on this 4 fold folio design I made years ago, this new and improved version offers loads of space for photos and journaling.

A 2″ wide decorative belly band with a magnetic closure holds everything together. (I will link all the products I used in the supply list. You will also find a basic cutting guide below the signature of this post.)

The Endless 8″ x 8″ pad is sized perfectly for this project. You will also need to use a 12″ x 12″ Endless 8 cut apart page for images and journal cards.

Endless Summer Memories Flip Folio Tutorial: A Peek Inside

Remove the belly band to reveal a gatefold opening. I adhered just the bottom corner of a 3″ x 4″ journal card to the left hand gate. The little bumblebee icons from the 12×12 Cardstock Components sheet make a darling turn tab.

This flip folio has hidden pocket pages, folio inserts, and loads of room for photos.

Here’s a look at it fully opened. The center panel is 5″ x 7″ The mirror image panels on the left and right are 4″ x 6″. Half inch spines allow lots of room to fill the pages and pockets with photos and memorabilia.

Endless Summer Memories Flip Folio Tutorial: Interactive Features

A center pocket is hidden behind a large pull out page.

This sweet little shaker folio is tucked into the pocket. A magnetic tab top closure keeps everything neat and tidy.

TIP: The shaker frame is the “leftover” from cutting out the dragonfly image on the belly band. Simply back it with clear cardstock, add a little foam tape around the edges, fill with a shaker mix, and adhere to the mason jar paper.

Here’s a peek at the two folio inserts.

Endless Summer Memories Flip Folio Tutorial: YouTube Video

It’s really hard to get a feel for the flow of a folio like this one without a video tour. You’ll be able to see how everything works together in the project share and video tutorial below.

Note: My cell phone battery died at one point during the final taping sequence. It doesn’t affect the tutorial in any way, but it does make for an awkward closing sequence. My apologies! Technology can be tricky!

I hope you will have fun making this elegant little folio. It can be used with any papers you have in your stash, and is adaptable to any theme. I’d love to hear your thoughts about it in the comment section below.

Authentique Endless Summer Card Kit Reveal for The Button Farm Club

Hello, Friends! Spend some time during the lazy, hazy days of summer creating vibrant all occasion greeting cards with the Button Farm Club Authentique Endless Summer Card Kit. If you’re like me, you never seem to have enough cards on hand.

The Authentique Endless Summer Card Kit from The Button Farm Club will help you to create an amazing variety of beautiful handmade cards quickly and easily. Just follow the full color step by step tutorial that comes with the kit.

Vibrant summer patterns and images from Authentique Paper’s Endless Collection will be used to make 10 projects from this one kit: an interactive 5” x 7” card folio with pockets, flip page and waterfall feature; a fanciful mason jar shaker card, 6” x 6” easel card that is suitable for home decor, a delightful fun fold card with a pocket, (3) 4” x 6” easy to mail cards, (2) dimensional gift tags, and a clever gift card wallet.

Project #1: Lazy Days Card Folio

If you’ve been wishing for a card folio tutorial…here it is! And isn’t it adorable? This is a 5″ x 7″ side fold card folio with all sorts of fun on the inside.

This is just a sneaky peek of all the fun I’ve tucked inside. There’s a double pocket flip page with inserts, a waterfall feature…and more! This is a great place to capture a special family birthday, vacation or summer fun day.

Project #2: Mason Jar Shaker Card

How cute is this 5″ x 6 1/2″ shaker card? Can you see the little fireflies in the mason jars? You’ll learn how to make it with the tutorial that comes in the kit.

Project #3: Sunbonnet Sue Easel Card

This 6″ x 6″ easel card can double as summer home decor.

Project #4: Dragonfly Days Fancy Fold Card

No card kit would be complete without a great fancy fold card design. This 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ fancy fold looks so impressive when made, but is actually simple to make. You’re going to love it!

Projects #5, #6 and #7: Easy to mail cards

These 4″ x 6″ cards have a little less dimension, making them easier to mail. But they are still big on detail.

Some have a lovely little gift card pocket on the inside.

And they all make creative use of scraps.

Projects #8 and #9: Vintage Style Gift Tags

These dimensional gift tags have a lovely little hanging loop on the top, making them easy to add to a package, or to hang from a knob as home decor.

They are generously sized at 3″ x 6″.

Project #10: Gift Card Wallet

Last but not least, you’ll learn how to create this lovely gift card wallet. It’s the perfect way to present a monetary gift with a personal touch.

Endless Summer Card Kit: What’s Inside:

Everything you need to make all of the above projects comes in the kit with the exception of inks, adhesives and tools. Just look at all the wonderful paper pretties packed into this kit:

10 October Afternoon Buttons in a variety of colors and sizes (varies from kit to kit but all are color coordinated to work with the papers)

a vintage style metal key in either gold or silver tone

(3) silver tone charms: butterfly, dragonfly, bee

2 cloth covered button brads (vary from kit to kit)

One sheet of Chipboard Stickers

3 doilies

2 Maya Road Pearl Stick Pins

1 Packet of Sparkletz Shaker Mix

Shaped Shaker Card base

If you are an experienced card maker, you can just play with the kit as you please. If you are a card maker who wants to learn some new techniques, gain confidence in layering patterned papers, and discover fun new styles of cards to make, the easy to follow tutorial is there to guide you.

Authentique Endless Summer Card Kit: The First in a Series

What I’m really excited about is this: if this card kit is well received, I will be working with The Button Farm Club to release an all occasion card kit for each quarter of the year. How exciting is that?

If you’re interested in placing an order for this kit, then pop on over to the Button Farm Club and sign up. (I think Laura is also adding a subscription button for future card kits.)

So many of you have asked me to come to your hometowns to teach a class. Well, this is the next best thing (and I don’t have to travel! LOL). I’m truly honored to be collaborating with The Button Farm Club to make these kits. The quality of everything is top notch, and the value is amazing. The price of the kit is just $49.95. I honestly don’t think you could purchase all the elements we’ve packed into this kit for less.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this kit. I’ve tried to create a kit with a wide variety of card styles, suited to all levels of crafting ability. How’d I do? Please share your thoughts with me in the comment section below. I’m listening!

Amazing Paper Grace Endless Summer Shaker Card: Guest Designer Post

Hello, Friends! Summer is upon us, so I thought I would create this lovely Authentique Endless Summer Shaker Card for this week’s Guest Designer Post at Amazing Paper Grace. The shaker element is made with the Spellbinder’s Shapeablilities Brillante Rondelle Etched Dies by Becca Feeken. The floral cluster is made with APG Cinch and Go Flowers V.

TIP: Die cut flowers from patterned paper, then sponge with ink or spritz with spray to make custom flowers that match your project perfectly. Fill the centers with small buttons or Prills, as I have here.

Endless Summer Shaker Card: The Shaker Element

Here’s how I created this lovely shaker element:

First, place the #1, 2, and 3 Brillante Rondelle Dies on Whip Cream Cardstock. (#1 is the largest die.)

TIP: Make sure the dies are evenly spaced on all sides for the best cut. You can hold them in place with a small piece of washi tape. The washi tape will not tear your paper, but will hold the dies in place during the cutting process.

Next, use just the #1 die to cut a circle from clear cardstock.

Then cut a second circle using the mason jar paper from Authentique Endless. This image will be the background for your shaker element.

Now adhere the clear cardstock circle to the back of the Brillante Rondelle using a thin bead of Dries Clear Adhesive.

Once the glue is set, place the window face down on a clean sheet of paper. This will protect it from any smudges or soil.

Then, place a triple layer of Darice Foam Strips around the inner margin of the die cut. Leave the liner tape in place on the top layer for now.

Next, fill the shaker box with Lilac Lane Summer Nights Sequin Mix.

Remove the liner tape and adhere the mason jar circle to the shaker box.

Endless Summer Shaker Card: The Easel Action

Easel cards look so fancy, yet they are amazingly simple to make.

Create a 6″ x 5 1/2″ top fold card.

Score the front side of the card in half again at 2 3/4″ .

Fold this flap back so that the card front looks like a triangle, or tent as seen in the above photo.

Score and fold the extra length at the bottom of the card base to serve as a pocket inside the card.

Now create a second 6″ x 5 1/2″ panel of cardstock and build the card front on it. When finished, adhere the bottom half of the card front to the bottom edge of the card base.

Pop up the Center Die Cut from the Brillante Rondelle Die on foam tape or waste chipboard.

Adhere it along the bottom right edge of the card base as seen in the above photo. This raised element acts as a brake for the easel, enabling it to stand upright.

Top the brake with a large button to cover up the dimensional element.